New children's garden a'growin'

By ANNE KAZMIERCZAK
Register Reporter
Iolans may have wondered about recent development at the corner of North Sycamore and Lincoln streets.
The work, a combined effort of the city, county, USD 257 and local businesses, will soon result in the dedication of the Wayne Garrett Children’s Garden, said SAFE BASE Director Angela Henry.
Set to open Oct. 13, the 13-plot garden will feature raised beds, a greenhouse, compost heap and arbor, all surrounded by a picture-perfect white picket fence, Henry said.
The garden came about through Henry’s efforts to increase awareness of food sources, enhance nutritional health of students and their families, and as a way to honor a man who was dedicated to children and his community.
“He was an advocate for children and for SAFE BASE,” Henry said of Garrett, who was killed in a tractor/car collision in the fall of 2008.
“He went with me to a meeting” seeking funding for the after-school educational program “the week before he died,” Henry said.
So it is apt, she said, that the new garden, created with volunteer efforts and grant funding from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, be named for him.
Many people and agencies have had a hand in the success of the garden thus far, Henry noted.
“The city gave us use of the plot; Anderson Plumbing donated two frost-free hydrants and all the plumbing work for the garden; the Sheriff’s Department dug all the fence post holes,” Henry went on. In addition, “Payless Concrete donated all the concrete for the project,” and the county’s Public Works Department provided labor and equipment to move soil, survey the plot and the like.
“We couldn’t have done this without them,” Henry said of the help.
Still others helped as well, Henry said. Diebolt Lumber will build and install the picket fence and arbor; Harry Clubine donated 15 cubic yards of compost and the county provided soil from its recent landfill cell expansion to be used to fill the raised beds.
Raised bed frames themselves were built using Allen County Jail inmate labor under the same program that saw a garden installed on the Iola square last year.
On Friday, inmates Chris Dix and Dustin Dicekrson were helping construct the 10 by 12 foot greenhouse to be placed in the center of the plot.
Sheriff’s Deputy Dathan McMurtrey and Allen County Emergency Management specialist Terry Call were also on hand.
The garden, once completed, will provide “school-based” learning for all elementary and middle school students enrolled in the district’s’ after school SAFE BASE program, Henry said.
Along with growing nutritious food stuffs, students throughout the year will research recipes and plan themed “Blue Plate Special” dinners to be shared with their families one Wednesday a month.
The first supper, also planned for Oct. 13, will feature pears and apples, courtesy of the season and a pear tree located on the edge of the new garden.
Throughout the school year, Henry said, students will design the Blue Plate Specials around seasonally available foods.
February will feature a Groundhog theme, with buckwheat pancakes and a live groundhog as mascot; March will feature healthy potatoes; “April is make your own pizza night,” Henry said; and May should see greens provided by the new garden become the base for a salad supper.
“The purpose is so kids can replicate these activities at home,” Henry said, including gardening with their families in yards or at Iola’s Elm Creek Community Garden, where SAFE BASE also has plots.
Dedication of the new garden is set for 5:45 p.m. Oct. 13, with Garrett’s family members and speakers from the Allen County Fair Board and USD 257 School Board on hand.